NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAY 28
The Indian Air Force (IAF) operationalised its No.18 Squadron at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, equipping it with the indigenously made fourth generation LCA Tejas aircraft, a Defence release said.
#18स्क्वाड्रन का संक्रियाकरण: 18 स्क्वाड्रन, "फ्लाइंग बुलेट्स" को वायुसेनाध्यक्ष एयर चीफ मार्शल आर के एस भदौरिया द्वारा आज वायुसेना स्टेशन सुलूर में संक्रियात्मक दर्जा प्रदान किया गया। pic.twitter.com/XIAjjgDJoL
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria operationalised the squadron “Flying Bullets” at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore on Wednesday.
यह अवसर तेजस प्रोग्राम में एक महत्वपूर्ण मील का पत्थर है क्योंकि इससे एफ ओ सी वैरिएंट को शामिल किए जाने की शुरुआत हुई। इस समारोह के दौरान तेजस एफ ओ सी के वायुयान दस्तावेज एच ए एल के सी एम डी द्वारा पहले वायुसेनाध्यक्ष को और फिर 18 स्क्वाड्रन के कमांडिंग अफसर को सौंपे गए। pic.twitter.com/W02r1vUeGM
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020
Before the induction ceremony, the Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria flew a solo sortie in the Tejas Mk I fighter with 45 Sqn.
OPERATIONALISATION OF 18 SQN:
18 Squadron, the "Flying Bullets" was operationalised by CAS ACM RKS Bhadauria at AFS Sulur today. The Sqn has a distinguished history of having Fg Offr Nirmal Jeet Singh Sekhon PVC (P) on its honour roll. pic.twitter.com/RACBKZu5E6— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020
“The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC (final operation clearance) aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas,” after the 45 Squadron based at Coimbatore, it said.
Operationalisation of second Squadron of IAF with LCA Tejas is an important milestone for the Nation.
This is a major step towards equipping Armed Forces with indigenous systems.
Congratulations to IAF, ADA, HAL & DRDO for their sustained & synergistic efforts: Raksha Mantri
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 27, 2020
Air Officer Commanding in Chief of the Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, and the Commodore Commandant of 18 Sqn, Air Marshal TD Joseph, R Madhavan CMD HAL, Dr Girish S Deodhare, PGD (CA) and Director, Aeronautical Development Agency were also present during the ceremony.
While addressing the personnel at AF Station Sulur, the CAS congratulated them and lauded the efforts put in by Southern Air Command and AF Station Sulur towards the induction of the new airborne platform. He complimented the Chairman HAL, ADA, DRDO labs, DPSUs, MSMEs and all agencies involved in the production of LCA under Make in India initiative and for achievement of this historic milestone.
The CAS Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria flew the #LCA Tejas fighter this morning with 45 Squadron at Air Force Station Sulur. He is on a visit to the Station for operationalisation of 18 Squadron.#LCATejas#IndianAirForce pic.twitter.com/v5Bfv8EJK5
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020
The occasion was marked by the presentation of aircraft documents of the Tejas FOC version by the HAL CMD to the CAS. The CAS further handed these over to the Commanding Officer of 18 Squadron Group Captain Manish Tolani, along with the ceremonial keys to the unit. The event commenced with a flypast comprising a helicopter formation of the Mi 17 V5 and the ALH, An-32 transport aircraft and Tejas Mk-1 fighters.
#RememberingKargil
भारतीय वायुसेना स्क्वाड्रन लीडर अजय आहूजा वीर चक्र(मरणोपरांत) को याद करती है और उनके प्रति श्रद्धांजलि व्यक्त करती है, जिन्होंने ऑपरेशन #सफेदसागर के दौरान 27 मई 1999 को सर्वोच्च बलिदान दिया ।
आपकी वीरता, साहस और बलिदान को नमन। जय हिंद ! pic.twitter.com/XbRrOMmnuM— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020
The No.18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto “Teevra aur Nirbhaya” meaning “Swift and Fearless,” was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft.
The Squadron “actively participated” in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously.
Operationalisation of IAF #Chinook CH-47F (I)-
Glimpses of Chinook undertaking high altitude operations in Siachin both by day & night. pic.twitter.com/dF7mrtFGAm— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 27, 2020
“It earned the sobriquet Defenders of Kashmir Valley by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar,” it said.
“The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur,” the release added. According to the release, Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta-wing aircraft.
The aircraft is equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made of composite material.
“It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth-generation supersonic combat aircraft,” the Defence release said.
